Australian film-maker shortlisted for Ridley Scott’s YouTube film competition

An Australian film-maker has had two short films included in a shortlist of 50 to compete in YouTube’s Your Film Festival.

The competition is run in conjunction with the video platform, Venice International Film Festival and Ridley Scott’s Scott Free production company, with the winner receiving $500,000 to develop a project with Scott and Prometheus star Michael Fassbender.

The top ten finalists, as voted on by the YouTube community, will attend and screen their films at the 69th Venice International Film Festival in August.

From 15,000 submissions, Damien Power had two films selected, Bat Eyes and Boot.

Both films were produced by Bec Cubitt and developed by The Voices Project, an initiative by the Australian Theatre for Young People.

Power said: “I’m thrilled that my films have been selected for YouTube’s Your Film Festival. This is why I make films – to share stories with as large an audience as possible.”

Both films were adapted from theatrical monologues written by Jessica Bellamy and Joanna Erskine.

Robert Kyncl, global head of content of YouTube said: “Through this program, YouTube will give film-makers the opportunity to reach a vast audience, screen their work during the Venice Film Festival and potentially be rewarded in a career-changing way.”

Scott, who in 2010 teamed with YouTube and its community for the Life in a Day project, said: “Short film-making is exactly where I started my career 50 years ago, so to be helping new filmmakers find an entry point like this into the industry is fantastic.”